Although payday lenders advertise as if they were friends in your moment of need, payday loans throw most borrowers into a cycle of debt, dulling their ability to make a living. The payday loan industry thrives upon a web of myths.

Throughout the history of our country newcomers have been vilified as dangerous others—less than human. As the New Orleans community honors its Italian heritage this weekend it is an opportune time to reflect—have we learned from the mistakes of our collective past?

We recently saw the assault on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act [PPACA] close the federal government (costing at least $25 billion dollars) and almost wreck the economy by refusing to lift the debt limit.